Cecil Slack's letters: Volume 20

The body of each letter is as transcribed by Lady Joan Slack. In each case the name or initial of the writer is followed by the recipient, the date (where known) and the address from which the letter was sent. For convenience, these have been presented in a common format. CMS is, of course, Cecil Moorhouse Slack.

Dora to CMS; Friday 23.2.'17.

My Darling,

I think from your last letter that you are still with the French altho' you did not say so - shall you be with them long? It must be a beastly job - sniping - when one thinks of the sentimental side - but it is as well one doesn't at the time. The sunrises must be gorgeous out there but I'm afraid you are having rather a rotten time - especially if you have had such a little bit of sleep and not even been able to wash. I am awfully sorry I told you I was fed up - you must have thought me a wretched grouser when the rotten time you are having is not to be compared with the little bit of scratching I do here. It would make all the difference in the world if I could just be with you for an hour every evening - wouldn't it? Anyway I'm not going to grouse to you any more hence forward and I'm going to squash my beastly little spirit.

Pa is going to lift Mother on to the sofa in her bedroom to-night so she is getting on, only very slowly. Flossie will be finishing her course next Wed. so will be coming back here then I suppose unless she gets a job straight away. I had a letter from your Mother y'day. Ralph and Kitty and Miss Anderson and the Nurse have got influenza so she will be up to her eyes with work. Your Mother really is a brick with all those kiddies - isn't she? I think I have got all your letters - because after waiting that ten days - you remember - I got three at once. Please DO let your little moustache grow AT ONCE - I love you much more with it on! I am looking forward to the photograph and hope it won't be long in coming. By the way - have you replied to Billy and Betty yet - because I haven't - I was waiting to send them photographs which haven't all come yet. They haven't sent the account for them yet because I haven't got them all - but we will settle it and you are not to bother about it till I see you again.

I am going to make a fearful spurt while I am at home and try and finish your little socks - I have got a lot of letters to answer so must finish those first. Had a letter from the Matron at Waltham Abbey to-day and scarlet fever has broken out and they are in quarantine for 10 days so I shan't have to go back until that is over I suppose. I'm so glad I haven't caught the beastly thing - it is such a spotty do and it would have meant being shushed away into an ordinary fever hospital too for about four weeks. Tootle-pip old chap and DO take care of yourself and don't take risks with the beastly sniping - I don't care a hang about it - I don't mean that I'm not proud of you because you know I am - but do look after yourself.

Goodbye my love,

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 26.2.17.

My Love,

I am still at this beautiful little village on the Somme but expect to go back to the battalion in a day or two. I want to get back, because my letters have not been forwarded and I have been a whole week now without news of you or from home. It has been a most delightful week, as there has been a lot of sunshine, and it has been almost Spring. This afternoon I was sitting outside, reading.

We have just got news of fresh victories for the British, big victories that look like the beginning of the end. How I long for the end, and what it will mean for you and me.

Can you send me another copy of the sepia photograph of you. The one I have was slightly cracked in the post, and in a certain light the crack shows, and rather spoils it.

You seemed to be very near me last night. I don't know whether you were dreaming of me. It was about midnight, I had stayed up late, playing bridge.

Have you been able to get your ring on again? I hope the chilblains are better now the frost has gone.

Do you know, I stayed in bed this morning till 10.30, and such a comfy soft bed too, far too good for an infantry officer. Of course I lost my breakfast, but it was worth it. I'm making the best of a good time.

It's only 9.30 pm. now, but I'm off to bed again to read and smoke till 10.30.

There's no news here, and your latest letters haven't reached me yet - they would have taken 3 or 4 days to forward to me and then would probably have missed me - so I'll have to say goodnight. I hope to be dreaming of my love in an hour or two. I do dream of you often now.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Wednesday 28.2.'17; 3 pm.

My Love,

I am sure you will be surprised by the address to see where I am. I think I wrote to you last on Friday but am not quite sure really - since then Mother has seemed much weaker and worse - Dr. Kemp came as usual on Monday mg. but seemed very bad indeed in the early afternoon so telephoned for him again - then Dr. Phillips came over from Sheffield at 6 pm. and saw Ma and said she must come here for an operation so Pater - Dr. Kemp and I came along with Mother in a taxi yesterday morning - poor old Mother - you really wouldn't know her - my darling - she is absolutely white as a sheet and frightfully weak. She had her operation at nine this am. and the Dr. says she is doing very well indeed and it is quite successful - but of course she is awfully weak even now - she can only talk in a whisper, Father is coming over by the 4 pm. train so sorry for him - he seems fearfully worried about her.

It was arranged before we came that I was to have a bed in the same room as Mother and help to look after her too. I'm afraid she would have felt awfully lonely if she had been alone. All the nurses and Sister Chapman are exceedingly kind and nice - which means a lot. It is really a relief in one sense to know that Mother is here under far better conveniences than at Silkstone and trained nurses too - Cecil I really had felt the responsibility of it all tremendously since Sat.

Mary , the maid, has left to make munitions and be nearer her Mother - and the other maid we had got couldn't come till the 28th. - to-day - so have been without a week or two - have had an orderly in the mg. and a charwoman in the afternoon. To add to everything - a fresh orderly came on Monday mg. and the char couldn't come - so it really seemed fearful all day long - and then having to prepare for the Sheffield Dr. coming at night and after that before I got on the couch (had been sleeping there for the last four or five nights) and then had to get up during the night for Mother so after all that and getting Ma ready for coming here y'day I felt quite done last night when I got into bed - I think it must have been a kind of reaction really as I hadn't felt tired at all the last few days - and worrying about Ma's operation to-day.

I did want you so badly Cecil - I simply couldn't help crying and shoved my head under the bedclothes - I hope you won't think I'm a baby talking like this Cecil - w'ld you - but I know that if I could only have held your hand it would have been a comfort and I should have felt alright. The last letter of yours I got on Monday morning - the one you wrote in the train - I am awfully sorry you have been ill with tinned stuff or something - you know you must be careful with your innards - I shouldn't have allowed you to eat chocolate biscuits and turkish delight immediately afterwards if I had been with you! Imagine what a reign of terror you will live in when you are married!!!

Yes, my love, I am going to continue making you happy when we are married for always - it seems strange to me that I should make you happy for all your life by just a promise now - but it's a big and long promise - isn't it? I have absolutely stuck after the last sentence and can't think what to write - all I have been doing is just thinking about you and how I love you and you love me - I know that if I wasn't engaged to you now I should feel awfully lonely - not ordinary kind of loneliness - but a special kind - you know - don't you - when I feel that however many people I am with there is only you who would take away the lonely feeling.

I am glad you like my photographs - I have got one of you on the mantelpiece and a nicer one of you in my mind - I'll tell you what I just long to do to-night - to give you a nice kiss and stroke your nice old face .

Now do be quick and scratch up a little bit of leave somehow - anyhow - bless you and I shan't sleep for a week beforehand with excitement.

Had a letter from Kathleen Watt in the Bermudas to-day - she likes being there very much - dancing - tennis - concerts and all sorts - why don't you get into the 2/4th. E.Y. and go out there and have a good time - it would be gorgeous to think you were out there safely till the end of the war and you would be enjoying yourself too - I suppose it can't be managed though - or some of you would have done it before.

Father wired for Flossie on Monday night and she arrived y'day - she is now at Silkstone keeping house for Pater.

Father has been over to see Ma for half an hour to-day and brought your letter of the 23rd. - I am so glad you have got such a good billet - what do you do all day if you are having a holiday whilst with these musketry men?

Have finished this letter in the evening - Ma seems to be getting on very nicely I am thankful to say - it does take it out of one to see one's own loved ones very ill.

I am more than thankful that you have never been badly wounded. Goodbye - my darling - I do like hearing from you often - write to Heath Cottage address -

Yours with love,

Dodo.

So sorry if I have wandered on and on in this letter.

The M.O. was awfully kind at Silkstone - came so often the last day or two and sat with Ma.

CMS to Dora. Field Post Card.
Post marked 5, March 1917. Dated 3.3.17.

I am quite well

Letter follows at first opportunity.

Cecil.

CMS to Dora; 3.3.17.

My Love,

I hope the field post-card, which you would get a few posts before this letter, did not put the wind up. I sent it because I had not written for two or three days and could not write a letter as I had broken my glasses. I've managed to mend them now with wire, but have missed today's post.

I got back to soldiering again the day before yesterday. We left our pretty little village at 9.0 am. one morning having got out of bed at 4.0 am. We were on the move till 8.0 pm., and had to march 14 miles with a full pack, and to crown all there were no rations for us for two days, except what the Quartermaster could beg, steal or borrow.

I came up to the trenches the following night, and am there now, having an easy time. I am on a carry party, which does a bit of carrying at night for about two or three hours. The rest of the time I have nothing to do. I am living in a nice safe dugout in a battered village. The machine gun bullets are a bit annoying at nights, but haven't done us any harm yet. A few passed about 3 ft. from my head last night, but did nothing except put the wind up.

I expect to be relieved today, and I think we are going back for a few weeks rest in a day or two. When I got back to the battalion there were two letters from you and a parcel with another letter in it. You do make lovely chocolate cakes. Everyone who has a bit says how good they are, and has another bit. I hope you'll make 'em when we're married.

I don't think you'll mind house-keeping so much when we're married you know as you do now, It will be different you know when it's your own house and your own hubby you're looking after. And besides I can always help. I'm awfully good at boiling water. And then there will be the diversion of the hens. We're going to keep hens, aren't we? When my Mother and Father were in Australia they kept hens and a cow.

Mother tells me in her last letter that they're going to grow vegetables and hens in the garden now. You've probably heard that Harold's about safe now, but not better, and has to have a long rest in the country. They talk about sending him to a farm. I'm very glad your Mother is getting better. I'm sorry you've had such a busy time indoors all the time. It must get rather feeding.

There are seven more officers to go on leave before my turn comes again. If leave goes on regularly I am due in about 7 weeks time, but I expect all sorts of things will crop up to delay it.

No, I haven't had any interesting letters lately, except, of course, yours, and those from home. By the time you get this letter it will just be a quarter of a year since you promised to marry me, and 9 months since I asked you first.

Yours with love,

Cecil

Dora to CMS; Sunday 4.3.17.

My darling Cecil,

Mother is getting on very nicely indeed - still very weak of course - but the Dr. and nurses are quite satisfied with her so we all feel very happy about it. Being so weak, it makes her frightfully nervy and worried and it will be sometime before she is quite strong again - still I am very thankful she is on the right road. I had a letter from your Mother y'day and she seemed very anxious about Ma but I had just written and told her about it. Am glad Harold is nearly better and will soon be going away - if he hadn't had plenty of care I'm sure he wouldn't have pulled thro'. I am really having a jolly good rest now I am here - as I have really very little to do now that Mother is getting better - of course Mother isn't even sitting up in bed yet. Y'day Father came over from Silkstone at noon - I met him and we had lunch together and then spent the afternoon with Ma - he won't be able to get over till the middle of next week now - as the C.O. is very strict about officers being off. William is over for the weekend and is probably coming over to see Ma with Flossie this afternoon but they are telephoning at noon.

I don't think Flossie is going back to London again - she has had enough of it all and Pater said she was quite glad to be back home again. Full of houses and furniture now - I almost think they are getting married this year but nothing is settled yet. Pa thinks the war will be over this year - cheerioh - bless you. Do you remember the last Sunday I was in Sheffield - I didn't feel quite as chirpy as I do now. When DO you think you will come again Cecil - I've lived on the memories of the one week for years it seems like and I do want another week - I don't know where we shall both be or what we shall do - but I don't mind as long as we are together.

I haven't a scrap of news for you to-day - I haven't heard from you since I last wrote but I might get a letter to-morrow. Goodbye my sweetheart, take care of yourself.

I do love you,

Dora.

Dora to CMS; Tues. 6.3.17.

My darling Cecil,

Flossie brought me a letter from you from Silkstone yesterday - written just a day or two before you went back to the battalion. I am so sorry you haven't had any letters for a week - it is an existence without letters isn't it - its wretched. I am sorry my phizz got cracked in the post and I was so careful how I packed them - still I will send you another as soon as I can get hold of some cardboard to pack it in - there is a scarcity of everything in this nursing home.

Do you know - you said I seemed to be very near to you on a Sunday night - the 25th. - you had been sitting up playing bridge - and it was about midnight. I remember quite well - Ma hadn't been so well - it was the day before we called in the specialist - and I was sitting over her bedroom fire thinking of you just before I hopped on to the couch where I slept the last few nights I was at Silkstone - and it was about midnight too.

I shall soon be able to put your ring on again - I caught my finger on the oven in Silkstone and burnt a little hole in it just where I had that place before but it is just about better now and my chilblains are nearly better too altho' its left my hands a bit beefsteaky - still its all for King and Country so why worry! I have a peep at it in the box sometimes.

I haven't dreamt of you for such a long time - I don't know why - though I always think of you the last thing at night and the first in the morning. I haven't been sleeping extra well lately because Mother has had bad nights so I have thought of you a lot in the night. Mother is doing very nicely altho' still fearfully weak. It will be quite June before I can go nursing again - have written to-day to the Matron at Waltham Abbey and told her so. I am AWFULLY sorry about Hartley - not be with her again - she is such a sport and so decent - it isn't often one comes across a girl who is all-round sport and decent sort - is it?

I am glad you have had such a good rest and decent weather for your week - what did you find to do all day and you can tell the M.O. that he hasn't seen me yet and most probably will wonder where you found me - photographs are horribly deceptive things! Awful slush and snow here to-day.

Goodbye - my love,

Your Dora.

CMS to Dora; 7.3.17.

My Love,

I am awfully sorry to hear about your Mother, and am extremely thankful that she is now going on well after her operation. It has been a very trying time for all of you. I certainly was surprised when I saw the address on your last letter. It is very nice that you can live in the same room as your Mother: it will make a lot of difference to her.

I am awfully sorry that you have been having such a rotten, but unavoidable time. I quite understand how fed up you feel, old girl.

I'm afraid there isn't much chance of transferring to the Bermuda crush. We just have to go where we're told, and the Army is not likely to send men away from here who have had the experience we have. The longer you've been out here the more experienced you are, therefore your chance of moving is lessened. The Army is not run on sympathetic lines. There is just one very, very, very little spark of hope though, and it is so very little that it is not worth considering for a minute, but I will just tell it you as a little tale.

A recent decree has come into force whereby 1st. and 2nd. lines of Territorials are to be counted as one Regiment, as in the Old Army before the war. This means that there will be 16 captains, 16 full lieutenants, and 16 second lieutenants in the regiment. These people should be divided up equally between the two battalions, which in our case would mean that most of the second line would be second lieuts. Now the spark of hope is, Will some of these second lieutenants be transferred to the first line in exchange for more senior officers, in order to make an equal amount of captains etc., in both lines or will the second line people stay where they are with temporary seniority? It will be the latter I am afraid. Anyhow I'm not counting on it.

I am back with the battalion, which is resting. Owing to another senior officer, who was wounded on the 15th. Sept., having returned, I am now in command of a platoon, but transfer to another company, as second in command tomorrow.

This morning I sent in an application for transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. I am afraid the Colonel will not let me go, but I shall try again later on. The R.F.C. have been asking for officers and N.C.Os. as observers, hence my action. It would be a better job than my present one. Nothing is more dangerous or uncomfortable, or more thankless than the infantryman's.

Of course, if the Colonel refuses to forward my application I can apply direct to the Brigade, letting the Colonel know I have done so, but one doesn't like to do this.

We have got good news today. People in authority say the war will be over by the Autumn. There is other good news too, but I cannot tell it.

Please give my love to your Mother.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Friday 9.3.'17.

My darling Cecil,

Joy! I can get my ring on again now - I got it on and off quite easily on Wednesday night - the first time for ages it seems - it has taken an age for my hands to get right after the hospital work - hasn't it.

I had a long letter from Hartley at Waltham Abbey yesterday - she is awfully fed because I am not going back again just yet and she has got another vile V.A.D. in her room instead of me - a putrid little swank too - she says - and it will take her all her time to keep on peace terms with her. She is most probably going home for the summer to be with her Mother so that her sister can go off and do some work for a while and she wants me to go and stay with her at their place in Lancs. and then in the autumn to take up nursing or some work together again for the winter - so I am looking forward to being with her again as we get on so well together and I like her so. We may not go to Waltham Abbey again - may be somewhere else but don't know.

We think Ma and I might go down to Brighton for a month about - perhaps all April. I do wish you could get some leave then - then you might spend part of your leave with us down there - your Ma and Pa wouldn't mind would they? But it would be nice wouldn't it and we could have a matinée in London perhaps and see Romance. It is in Sheffield next week - by the way - should love to go and see it again but have decided the next time I see it will be with you. Do you think there is any chance of leave next month? I do hate to think I shall not be free to work till the summer is nearly through - I don't know whatever I shall do because it is impossible to do anything in Silkstone isn't it - still Ma will take a lot of looking after yet - well that's why I'm at home isn't it!

Heaps of love for yourself,

Your

Dora.

Dora to CMS; Monday 12.3.'17; 4 pm.

My Love,

I was so glad to get your letter on Sat. - only two days after the Field P.C. - no, I didn't get the wind up about the p.c. - because I knew you wouldn't have sent it if you hadn't been in a hurry or something and besides I was glad to know you were alright which is the main thing. What a wretched time you had getting back to the battalion and hardly any food for two days - you must have been horribly sick of it all. Am glad you are going to have a few weeks rest again and then you'll be away from the beastly trenches.

My left ear is burning horribly - I'm sure you must be thinking of me or something. I remembered yesterday the 11th. - I seem to have been engaged ages though - it seems such a long time now since the times when I hadn't you to think about. Does it seem like that to you? I'm glad you liked the chocolate cakes - I'll make them for you when you're married - of course if you're very good!! I'd quite forgotten about the hens we are going to keep - we must keep them - 'cause after the war when food isn't so dear they will more than pay for the eggs, I HOPE they will give us. We shall have to read up about the little blinkers beforehand though.

Father and Flossie came over on Saturday and Flossie stayed with Ma while Pater took me out to lunch and tea and we went to the pictures in between but they were horribly feeble still I enjoyed the change. I felt awfully excited when Pater brought your letter on Sat. and you said you might get leave in about seven weeks' time - well in fact it is six weeks now - that will be the end of April won't it - it will be heavenly won't it - I expect Ma and I will be in Brighton then or nearly coming away - at any rate I think we are going there but it is not decided yet.

Mother seems ever so much better to-day and is sitting up in bed - looks quite cheerful too and brighter than I have seen her look for some time so I feel ever so happy about her. I go out for two hours or nearly - every morning now - I went to the service at the Cathedral y'day morning - the first time I have been to church since Mother was ill cause I couldn't leave her and was only able to get off once in the five weeks I was at Waltham. I remember the last time I went to the Cathedral nearly three months ago - but I didn't feel VERY cheery then.

Goodbye my dearest,

Yours with love,

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 14. 3.17.

My Love,

I am very glad indeed to hear the good news that your Mother is getting on well. I hope you're soon able to get her away for a holiday. You can do with a good rest too, you know, you've been having a pretty strenuous time the last two or three months. I don't expect I'll be able to come and see you at Brighton, or wherever it is you are going, as leave is stopped, except to C.Os. and Staff Officers.

I am living at present in a little compartment of a shed and am quite comfortable. I have rigged up a brick stove, which smokes abominably, but causes quite a lot of entertainment and profane language.

I got my transfer form for the R.F.C. today, but as the Colonel is on leave, shall have to wait for about a fortnight till he comes back. I'm awfully sorry about your not being able to see Hartley for a time, but it'll be rather nice if you go and stay with her in the summer. I hope it won't be necessary for you both to go back to Hospital work next winter as I trust the war will be well over by then. I shall be very surprised if it isn't.

I'm so glad you've been able to get your ring on again, and the fingers are better. By the way, the M.O. is going back to Australia. M.Os. only sign on for a year at a time, and he's going to have a good holiday before he signs on again. His year was up at the beginning of this month.

I got a letter from Hilda the other day. She's a full prefect now, and a frightful nib. Bob has gone to some O.T.C. in Devonshire to learn how to be a soldier.

No, I haven't written to Billy and Betty yet.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Friday mg. 16.3.'17.

My Love,

I would have written to you yesterday but we had Queenie over from Nottingham for the day. It was a delight to see her again - I hadn't seen her since I was with you - she has had flu and gone a little thinner but is just as sweet as ever. We were in the town here about 2 pm. and then she caught the 5 pm. back again. Mother was delighted to see her and Queenie thought she was looking very well considering what she had gone through. She sent her love to you and likes your photograph very much indeed - I have got one (like I sent you) on the mantelpiece here in your Mother's silver frame and I have had the E. Yorks crest engraved on the top and the tout ensemble looks awfully nice especially your face.

I do wish you could be changed about with that new decree about 1st. and 2nd. lines of Territorials altho' one never knows what those little things will come to. I feel sure by your letter that you are absolutely at the last gasp with being fed up - altho' I know you don't say so - and things absolutely must be getting on your nerves and I really don't wonder at all - the monotony and discomfort apart from the awful danger of the whole thing must be terrible.

It was a surprise really that you had sent in your name for the R.F.C. as an observer but I hardly think the C.O. will accept it as you are jolly useful to him but please don't apply to the Brigade as it hardly seems the right thing to do, as you say. I know the infantry work is a thankless job but I wonder which will be the safer for you - but just do which ever you think would be the SAFEST for yourself which is the chief point - of course I know the R.F.C. would be a change and you would learn a lot - apart from the mechanical side even - and one wants to think of that too and also you would live in a comfortable billet, which is another great thing after the loathsome trenches. Still Reggie's affair has made the R.F.C. seem pretty wretched to me - before, I used to think it was the best thing going - but it is his "do" that makes me rather frightened of it - all the same do whichever you know to be the best for yourself - this is only foolish anxiety on my part, I know, but you know how I feel don't you.

Mother is getting on splendidly and has been out of bed for two nights now to have her bed made and is going to walk round the bedroom to-night. I was talking to Dr. Philips on the telephone yesterday evening and he said he had written and told Father that unless she has another operation she will keep having a return of these illnesses and he is just waiting till she gets a little stronger before he does it. He would have done more before but he said the risk was too great as she was so fearfully weak. It will be in three or four days time so I expect by the time you get this letter it will be over. From what I know I'm afraid it will be a big "do" rather, altho' Mother only thinks it will be very small - however Dr. Philips assured me there was no disease at all - so that is a very great blessing - Mother is really naturally very healthy - but still we can't help feeling it is an anxious time until the first two or three days after the operation. I haven't seen Pa since he got Dr. Philips' letter as he has been at Otley this week on an anti-gas course but he will be here all to-morrow afternoon to see Ma. It is wretched for him and I know he will be fearfully disappointed and anxious about Mother - and he was ever so cheerful last Saturday because Ma was looking so much better and he thought - would soon be at home again. It will be QUITE a month from now or even five weeks before we shall get to Silkstone and then take till the beginning of May before we shall get away - that is of course if things go well and I do hope they do.

We all seem to be under a cloud at present don't we - but I'm sure there is a brighter time for us all before very long altho' it is rottenly hard to try and keep cheerful through it all sometimes isn't it - I'm sure it must be for you at any rate and it seems sometimes such a long time off before we shall be together for always - but I don't think it will be so very long really and then I will try and make you ever so happy in a nice little house and a nice garden and love you all the time for always. So cheerioh, my darling, I'm sure all these rotten times will be over soon - I just live for the future and try and forget the blinking present although it is rather uncomfortably real for you - still never mind, my love.

Your own love, Dora

Dora to CMS; Sunday. 18.3.'17.

My darling Cecil,

Isn't it simply lovely weather - I'm sure the spring is coming at last - yesterday was gorgeous and to-day is just the same - Mother has her bed right in the bay window and the window open all day so she really gets heaps of fresh air. She sits up in bed all day now and has a pale blue dressing jacket on and looks awfully sweet - she really is rather pretty really, don't you think so - it seems an awful pity she has to have this other operation when she seems almost better now but it is no use going out he says and having the same thing recurring and it is better to have it done now and not have to think she has to come back again soon after she has got out.

Father came over yesterday and spent the afternoon with Ma and is coming over on Mon. evening if he can get but the train service is wretched just now.

I feel so fed up about my finger Cecil - it isn't small enough everyday to wear my ring and y'day I took it to the same shop as you got it from - I went with Pater and he said it would have to be cut to be made larger - however I'm not having it done as Pater seems sure that in a little more time my hands will be the same size again and he thinks if it HAD to be made larger I had better have it done sometime when I go to Hull at Barnby and Rust's.

It will be lovely spring when we get out of here about the 20th. of April I should think and we shall get away somewhere - Brighton most likely - about the beginning of May so I'm sure you will be getting a little bit of leave by then. It was out last night that Bapaume was taken - it is good isn't it - probably that was the good news you said you couldn't tell me in your last letter - or something like that. Russia seems a rummy do, doesn't it? I can't quite make out by the papers what is happening really - it seems rather a mystery the whole thing.

I've got rather a good book called "Our Hospital A B C", all pictures - it's awfully good - a skit on V.A.D. work and awfully true to life - I'll show it to you next time I see you. Wilfred Todd left London y'day for France with the R.F.C. - William is down there seeing him off.

Here are your little sockies at last - Ma says you won't like wearing them 'cause she is sure they won't be comfortable and they are too cold yet - so don't wear them if you don't want to - there's my photograph too - I've put it with wood this time so it ought not to break.

Cheerioh, and are you feeling a little more cheerie now? Tell me if you have heard any more about the R.F.C. or what is happening.

Heaps of love

Dora.

CMS to Dora; 19.3.17.

My Darling,

By the time this reaches you I shall, with any luck, be in Paris, on 48 hours leave there. We have been told that this leave is open, and several of us, including Norman Ingleby and myself, have applied. Ingleby's and my names have gone forward and we are hoping for our passes on Wednesday, the 21st. I was wondering whether it would have been possible for you to have got over, but it isn't. Ingleby tried some time ago to see if he could get his girl over, but there is such a lot of bother with passes and photographs at the one end, and then the uncertainty of leave being granted at the other, that it is not practicable.

Yes, it seems quite a long time, a very long time, since I hadn't you to think about. You see, I've had you to think about much longer than you have me.

I'm a company commander again for a few minutes, my own O.C. having gone mad and been sent to hospital for a few days. I'm awfully glad to hear your Mother is getting on so nicely.

By the way, you mustn't hope for a minute to see me in Brighton. Leave is not open again yet, generally, and I have no hope of any in the near future.

Owing to recent developments on the Western front, and the certainty of open warfare fighting instead of trench warfare, I am reconsidering my transfer to the R.F.C. I know the Colonel doesn't want me to go, but will forward my case if I press it, and the new fighting will be very exciting.

In reply to my application I was given a form to fill in. I am not forwarding it until the C.O. returns from leave. I am not a bit decided what to do yet, and am not going to bother about it for 10 days.

I have got a small black eye; a swollen thumb, and an aching funny bone - the result of boxing. The other fellow also has a small black eye, and swollen lips.

Yours with love,

Cecil

CMS to Dora. Post card from Paris. Post marked 23.3.1917.

Writing later. Am having a ripping time in Paris.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Dora to CMS; Thursday, 22.3.'17.

My darling Cecil,

Mother hasn't had her operation yet - Dr. Philips is waiting until she is a little stronger so I think it will be Sunday when it is done - she is really looking much stronger and better than she was that it seems such a shame she should have to go through a rotten time. It is an awfully anxious time for us all at present - the waiting is wretched and it will be a very anxious time for three days after the operation too.

I am wondering what is happening about the R.F.C. but I expect I shall be hearing again soon - the British advance seems to be going on but I'm very glad your lot are resting and out of it all. The last letter I had from you was dated 14th. March and the one previous 7th. and that is all I have had so I am wondering if one has been torpedoed or something in between the two dates 'cause you have never been a whole week and not written to me - ever since last June. Has it gone west do you think or did you forget about me for a whole week - you are très mauvais if you did, mon chéri.

Here is a little piece of crêpe de chine - that I am making myself a very nice blouse with - now DON'T write back and say it's pink!

Keeps snowing here all the time - not a bit like spring is it - fearfully cold and nippy - shall be getting another chilblain on my blinking nose if I'm not careful - what DO you think - I found a real-live-grey-hair right in a conspicuous place in my parting yesterday - its an awful tragedy isn't it and I should think you haven't got one!

Yours with love

Dora.

Sketch of blouse "swish" with engagement ring "guess what that is!"

CMS to Dora; 24.3.17.

My Darling,

I am so sorry your Mother has to have another operation. But it will be nice to know that after it all she will have better health.

I got your letter today in which you say she is sitting up and wearing a blue dressing gown jacket and looking awfully sweet. Yes, I do think Mother is rather pretty. I've always done so. You were the very image of your Mother when you took part in those plays at your house three or four years ago: I mean when you were dressed up as a most charming charwoman.

Norman Ingleby and I got back from Paris last night. We had good luck all the while, and had a ripping time.

We left our billets on Tuesday evening, and in five minutes caught a touring car which got us to Amiens in about 40 minutes, which was a tremendous piece of good luck.

We arrived at Amiens about 7.30pm. and found that the 6.30 train for Paris would be two hours late. This piece of luck enabled us to get a good dinner. However the train didn't start till 10.0pm. and we got into Paris at 3.0am. on Wednesday.

We got a topping suite at the Hotel de Castiglione. We had two bedrooms, one with two single beds, and one with a double one, a sitting room, and a bathroom. We were in bed by 4.0, and up again by 9.0. We had a slap-up breakfast, and then set off for a wander in the city. We were beset by touts wanting to guide us. We knew the sort of thing they would guide us to, but as we were out to see everything, we took one, and saw some VERY dubious things.

After lunch the hall-porter fellow got us a taxi with an English driver, and we had a lightning tour of Paris. We visited Notre Dame, and another church, the Jardin des Plantes, the Invalides place where Napoleon is buried, and several other places of interest. The Louvre was closed, owing to shortage of men and coal. Napoleon's burial place is wonderful - it is so magnificent and yet so simple - I don't know whether you've seen it. Have you been in Paris?

In the evening we went to the Folies Bergeres which is rather warm. During the interval we were accosted no less than fifteen times. We got to bed about 11.30, and slept till 10.30 on Thursday morning.

After breakfast we got our taxi again, which took us for the day. We went out by the Champs d'Elysées and Long Champs to Versailles, where we had lunch. We got back about 5.0pm. and in the evening we went to the Opera, where we saw La Tosca. It was ripping. On Friday morning we did some shopping when I bought the little vanity bag which you ought to get by the same post as this letter. It might come in handy for carrying a handkerchief or a box of matches. I was a bit worried about the colour, but they told me in the shop that it was neutral, and would go with anything. I got one for Mother too. I'm not quite sure whether I've mixed them up or not - if I have let me know. Yours is a greyish one with a "D" on the flap thing.

We left Paris at 1.15pm. arriving at Amiens at 5.0, and were again lucky in catching a touring car "home". We had ripping weather the whole time, with the exception of a few snow storms which only lasted a few minutes.

We must come to Paris some time when we are married. We shall have a ripping time. The gardens near the Champs d'Elysées are glorious. Our time alters tonight, and at 11.0 it becomes midnight. Has the time altered in England? I hope so because of 10.30pm.

Father is not very keen on my transferring to the R.F.C. I may not do it after all, but stick it out in the infantry for the few remaining months of the war. I am Adjutant again for a few minutes, as Holtby is on leave in Paris.

Yours with love,

Cecil.

Thank you very much for the photograph and the socks.

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